Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her firm determination to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country by overpowering poverty.
“We don’t want to beg to anybody and we don’t want to move by begging. I believe that the nation which achieved independence through Liberation War must be a developed and prosperous country by winning the war against poverty,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing a publication ceremony of a book, Bangladesh Government 1971-75, authored by former cabinet secretary HT Imam, in the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here this morning. HT Imam, also the Public Administration Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, AF Salahuddin Ahmad, National Professor and Golam Mostafa, Managing Director of Hakkani Publishers which published the book, also spoke at the function.
Eminent cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, recited a poem of Syed Shamsul Haque, while Tarana Halim, MP, read out some part of the book at the function. Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, parliament members, economists, journalists, artistes and senior government officials were present on the occasion.
The prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman performed a tough task during his short tenure from 1972 to 1975. “He loved people and struggled for the people throughout his life and his only aim was to change their lot,” she said.
Bangabandhu, she said, performed a difficult task as he faced the anti-liberation forces as well as ultra leftists and rightists in one hand, while he dedicated himself to building the war-ravaged nation in other hand.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had set up a rare example in the world by sending the troops of the allied force to their home within three months. For this, the PM thanked late Indian premier Indira Gandhi.
“During his short period, Bangabandhu also realised the recognition of 150 countries as well as the United Nations, OIC and the Commonwealth side by side with nation-building activities,” she said.
